Lawson Legal Services are members of the Institute of Professional Willwriters (referred to as “IPW”). It is mandatory that it operates in accordance with the IPW Code of Conduct, copies of which are available (in written or audio format) free of charge either from Lawson Legal Services or from the IPW direct.
As a member of the Institute of Professional Will Writers, Lawson Legal Services is committed to the highest levels of service and adhere to the following Code of Conduct:
Lawson Legal Services operates a two visit system. The first visit is to discuss your situation, your requirements and to obtain as much information as possible to enable us to draft your documents.
A second visit will be arranged to return your documents, to explain them to you so that you can be sure that they meet your requirements. We will also supervise the signing of the documents. Where documents are being drafted as updates to documents already issued by Lawson Legal Services, you can elect not to have a second visit.
Lawson Legal Services is obliged to give you the best advice based on the information you provide. In some cases this may require additional products or services, provided at extra cost either by Lawson Legal Services or other companies recommended by us. You are under no obligation to take up any product or service, but Lawson Legal Services may require you to sign a disclaimer if you choose not to follow the advice given.
Lawson Legal Services may require you to sign a disclaimer if you instruct us to draft any product or service in a way that is contrary to our advice.
Any advice that is given by Lawson Legal Services is based on its understanding of law, practices and procedures at the date of this agreement. Lawson Legal Services is not responsible for any consequences arising from any future changes in law, practices or procedures.
Lawson Legal Services has Professional Indemnity Insurance of £2million to cover claims and losses worldwide (except in the United States and Canada) arising as a result of any negligent act by it. The policy is currently with Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe Limited, Two Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7YE.
As part of our Code of Conduct, Lawson Legal Services has Public Liability Insurance of £5million to cover claims and losses or damages worldwide (except in the United States and Canada) arising from action by it. The policy is currently with Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe Limited, Two Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7YE.
Lawson Legal Services reserves the right to withdraw from any transaction if it is unable to complete any transaction in whole or in part but if it does so, it will write to you immediately and you will not be liable to pay any fees.
Lawson Legal Services will maintain client files for a period of 6 years after your death, or for a period of 6 years after you have notified us in writing that your document(s) have been revoked, whichever event occurs first.
Lawson Legal Services will provide advice free of charge in matters relating to this transaction for its lifetime.
Your completed documents will be available for signing 14 days from the date on which Lawson Legal Services has all the information that it requires to complete your documents.
In the event that the Company is unable to meet the above timescale then you will be able to renegotiate this agreement or you can cancel it without any obligation to pay any fees.
If you are unable to provide all of the information that the Company requires to draft your documents within 28 days of this agreement then you will be liable to pay half of the total fees on the 28th day after this agreement. Any fees paid at this time will be deducted from your final invoice.
We conduct all of our activities professionally and with integrity. We take great care to be completely objective in our judgement and any recommendations that we give, so that issues are never influenced by anything other than the best and proper interests of our clients.
Lawson Legal Services will never intimidate, harass or otherwise pressure clients into transacting business or making a decision. This in no way mitigates the underlying and logical message of importance or urgency that is inherent in every Will and Power of Attorney.
We always conduct our services honestly and honourably, and would ask our clients to return the courtesy. Our advice, assistance and the methods imparted through our professional training, take proper account of ethical considerations, together with the protection and enhancement of the moral position of our clients.
A Lawson Legal Services representative will never suggest or accept any invitation for him/her (or any person connected to him/her) to be an executor, attorney or beneficiary in respect to any Will, Trust or Power of Attorney that they are drafting.
Our actions and advice will always conform to relevant UK law. We aim to provide the maximum benefit to our clients in the most economical way possible, and always at the highest possible standard. Lawson Legal Services will assist each of its clients in making informed and balanced decisions regarding any of their estate or power of attorney needs.
Lawson Legal Services will always take reasonable steps to confirm to their own satisfaction that the client is acting freely, without coercion or undue influence, and with sufficient understanding to make an informed decision. If a client decides not to proceed with their contract, the Will Writer should make reasonable efforts, appropriate to the circumstances, to satisfy themselves that any cancellation is of the client’s free choice and without coercion.
We are committed to maintaining the highest degree of integrity in all our dealings with potential, current and past clients. This applies to confidentiality, and the protection of all personal information received in the course of providing the services we offer. We extend the same standards to all our client’s families and any other individual we may be asked to contact.
Lawson Legal Services will always attend a client meeting with the view that the individual has sufficient mental ability or capacity to understand the topics to be discussed. If however it becomes evident that the individual is under stress, or is struggling to gain sufficient understanding to make an informed decision, under our Code of Conduct, the Will Writer will suspend the meeting, and advise the need to involve others to assist the client.
Our prices are extremely competitive even though we do provide high quality and personally tailored services to meet individual needs. Once agreed Lawson Legal Services prices are fixed and without hidden extras.
Payment will be required, in full, on completion of the documents to your satisfaction.
We maintain the quality of what we do through constant ongoing review of our practices. The cost of correcting any error or omission on the part of Lawson Legal Services shall be bourne entirely by Lawson Legal Services.
We always strive to be fair and objective in our advice and actions, and we are never influenced in our decisions, actions or recommendations by issues of gender, race, creed, colour, age or personal disability. Likewise we will never refuse to provide products and services for reasons of gender, race, creed, colour, age or personal disability.
If you wish to make a complaint about any aspect of service provided by Lawson Legal Services, you must, in the first instance write to Leigh Purdy. She will acknowledge your letter within 5 days of receipt and then investigate the circumstances of your complaint and write to you with the results of his investigation within 56 days of receipt of the complaint.
If you are not happy with the results of the investigation by Lawson Legal Services, you can write to the Institute of Professional Willwriters who will instigate a Conciliation Process to help you and Lawson Legal Services to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement.
If you are not happy with the results of the Conciliation Process or if you choose not to take up the Conciliation Process following any investigation by Lawson Legal Services, you can write to the Estate Planning Arbitration Scheme (EPAS) providing at least 56 days have elapsed from the date of the initial complaint. The EPAS will then investigate your complaint and make a formal judgement but there will be a cost to you if you take this option.
These complaints procedures detailed within our Code of Conduct do not prevent you from seeking other means of redress.